Jella

Jella started life as an un-named tube-fin rocket designed specifically for 24mm motors.   I soon realized that it was going to be pretty heavy and draggy so I installed a standard 29mm mount with an Aerotech engine clip.  In one tube I mounted a pair of 1/4" launch lugs, and in another I mounted a pair of BlackSky rail buttons.  Each of the 6 tube fins is painted a different color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.  The body, nose, and boat-tail are all black.

During preparation for its maiden flight I was asked what its name was.  I shrugged and said that it didn't have a name.  I turned to my daughter, Payne, and asked her what the rocket's name was.  She gave me this look that only a 3-year-old can that says "How should I know, daddy?"  I said "You can name it... anything you want."  Without even a moment of hesitation she yelled, "Jella!"  "Jell-o?", I asked, thinking it did fit the rainbow motif of the tubes.  "No, Jella!"  Okay, sounds good to me.

Specs:

• Body Tube: 30" of LOC BT2.56 with a 3" boattail down to 29mm
• Nosecone: "FatBoy"
• Fins: Six BT80 tubes 7.5" long
• Motor Mount: LOC 29mm, Aerotech engine clip
• Recovery: Motor ejection, anti-zipper baffle, nylon chute
• Recommended Motors: F40-4W RMS, G40-4W SU, G64-4 RMS

(Other motors will be listed as they are tested, but DO NOT use an E15-4W [see below])

Pictures:

• Internal structure.
• Front view of anti-zipper baffle. The 1/4" eyebolt also has a nut glued to the backside of the bulkhead. The bulkhead is made up of a centering ring glued to a solid disk. The motor tube terminates inside the centering ring.
• Close-up of internal aft section. Note the use of an Aerotech FinLok to compress the motor clip. You can use a centering ring or paper sleeve, but it must be both sturdy as well as low-profile to fit inside the boattail.
• Finished rocket.
• Prepping for maiden flight on an E15-4W. [Photo by dad, Jim Stum]
• Results of E15-4W.  Needs more oomph!   [Photo by dad]
• My daughter, Payne, helps me examine the 4" core sample. [Photo by dad]
• Prepping Jella v2 for its maiden flight. [Photo by dad] (v2 entails a slightly longer recovery bay than the original)
• Jella on an F40-4W. [Photo by dad]

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Matt Stum - NAR#73280 Level 2